Exploring the Ghost Town of Scotia Near State College

How to find the Ghost Town of Scotia near State College Pennsylvania.

Driving along Scotia Range Road through State Game Lands 176 near State College now, you’d never guess that you are passing right by the location of a once-thriving iron mining boomtown.

Remains of the ore washer at Scotia near State College Pennsylvania.
Remains of the ore washer at Scotia.

But in the late 1800s, the company town of Scotia, built by one of the richest men in the world at the time, served as home to employees of Andrew Carnegie’s Scotia Mines and Iron Works.

Portrait of Andrew Carnegie who founded the town of Scotia.
Portrait of Andrew Carnegie, who founded the town of Scotia (public domain image).

Now, Scotia is but a ghost town (and some say still inhabited by ghosts!), and the few remaining structures are being slowly swallowed up by the Earth.

Winter at the Scotia ruins near State College.
Winter at the Scotia ruins near State College.

Early History of Scotia

The presence of iron ore in this part of Pennsylvania had been known of since the late 1780s, and iron was being mined and transported to furnaces near present-day Bellefonte and State College throughout much of the early to mid 1800s.

Centre Furnace just east of present-day State College.
Centre Furnace just east of present-day State College.

But it was Andrew Carnegie, starting in 1881, that used his industrial might to mine, refine, and ship Scotia iron ore on a large scale to his steel mills in Pittsburgh.

A Carnegie Steel plant in Pittsburgh.
A Carnegie Steel mill in Pittsburgh (public domain image).

The Boomtown Years of Scotia

Named “Scotia” by Carnegie as a tribute to his native Scotland (Scotia meaning “little Scotland”), the company town that grew up around the iron ore mining operation at one time was home to nearly 250 workers and 400 total residents.

In addition to homes for the workers and their families, there was a blacksmith’s shop, a barber shop, a shoemaker’s shop, a general store, a church, and a grammar school named the Rabbit Hill School.

A historical map of Scotia in Centre County.
A historical map of Scotia in Centre County.

There was also a train station and a rail line that extended to Scotia to haul materials and people into Scotia, as well as hauling iron ore out of Scotia and west to Carnegie’s steel mills in Pittsburgh.

A steam engine used to transport iron ore.
A steam engine used to transport iron ore (public domain image).

In the early days of the operation at Scotia, iron ore was mined with pick and shovel, but that soon gave way to steam shovels.

A steam shovel used to mine for iron ore.
A steam shovel used to mine for iron ore (public domain image).

The iron ore that was mined needed to be washed to remove dirt, clay, and sand before it could be shipped to its final destination in Pittsburgh.

This meant that the iron ore had to be transported by small steam engines known as “dinkey trains” to a structure known as the “ore washer”, where it would be cleaned and then loaded onto freight cars again for the trip to the steel mills.

The concrete base of the ore washer is one of the few reminders of the ghost town of Scotia near State College.
This concrete base of the ore washer is one of the few reminders of the ghost town of Scotia near State College.

The process of washing the iron ore required vast amounts of water, and initially much of that water was pumped from what is now known as 10 Acre Pond, where to this day you can find concrete remnants of the water-pumping operation.

Concrete ruins near 10 Acre Pond and the ghost town of Scotia.
Concrete ruins near 10 Acre Pond and the ghost town of Scotia.

The iron mining operation and the town of Scotia prospered under Carnegie’s ownership until 1899, when he decided to sell it to the local Bellefonte Furnace Company.


The Decline of Scotia

Once vast quantities of high-grade iron ore had been discovered in Minnesota, it was more economical for Carnegie to obtain what he needed for his steel mills there.

An iron mine in Minnesota in the early 1900s.
An iron mine in Minnesota in the early 1900s (public domain image).

The Bellefonte Furnace Company operated the Scotia mines for another decade, but as the quality and quantity of iron ore produced there decreased, it became economically impossible to continue.

The mines closed, the equipment was sold off and disassembled, and homes were dismantled for their lumber.

By the early 1920s all that remained of Scotia was a few vacant buildings and foundations of what had once-been a thriving community.

A historical marker near the ghost town of Scotia.
A historical marker near the ghost town of Scotia.

Exploring the Ghost Town of Scotia Today

Today the remains of the ghost town of Scotia can be found on adjacent parcels of land owned by Patton Township and the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

A map of present-day Scotia near State College Pennsylvania.
A map of present-day Scotia near State College, Pennsylvania.

The most prominent man-made features still visible are the remnants of the ore washer operations.

Ore washer ruins on State Game Lands 176 at Scotia.
Ore washer ruins on State Game Lands 176 at Scotia.

The Abandoned Ore Washer at Scotia

Like a concrete skeleton, the remains of the abandoned ore washer at Scotia are a silent reminder that a once-bustling industrial operation existed in this modern-day forest.

Remains of the ore washer at Scotia.
Remains of the ore washer at Scotia.

Large earthen ramps on either side of the ore washer foundation allow you a birds-eye view.

Looking down on the abandoned Scotia iron ore washer from one of the earthen ramps.
Looking down on the abandoned iron ore washer from one of the earthen ramps.

The closest parking spot to the ore washer ruins is right along Scotia Range Road at GPS coordinates 40.80039, -77.94644.

Parking area along Scotia Range Road close to the ghost town of Scotia.
Parking area along Scotia Range Road, close to the ghost town of Scotia.

From an obvious footpath just beyond the gate at the back of the parking lot, follow the trail to the left (west) for approximately 200 yards to the base of the ruins.

The trail leading to the ghost town of Scotia near State College Pennsylvania.
The trail leading to the ghost town of Scotia.

State Game Lands 176 in general, and the Scotia ruins in particular, are a popular destination for area hikers, mountain bikers, and trail runners.

The ruins of Scotia are a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers near State College.
The ruins of Scotia are a popular destination for hikers and mountain bikers near State College.

The ruins have also been a popular party spot for many decades, at least since the 80s when I moved to State College.

The concrete ruins of the Scotia ore washer on State Game Lands 176 near State College Pennsylvania.
The ruins of the Scotia have been a popular party spot for many decades.

So don’t be surprised to see a constantly-changing array of graffiti and party paraphernalia scattered about.

The concrete remains of the ghost town of Scotia near State College.
The graffiti-covered remains of the ore washer at Scotia.

The Ore Pond at Scotia

Approximately 200 yards to the north of the Scotia ruins parking area lies a large ore pond, a pit where iron ore was once excavated, now filled in with water.

One of several "ore ponds" on State Game Lands 176, former iron ore pits that have filled in with water.
One of several “ore ponds” on State Game Lands 176, former iron ore pits that have filled in with water.

Because of the high iron content in the water, the pond takes on some seemingly-unnatural colors, almost fluorescent at times.

An ore pond left over from the Scotia iron ore mining days.
An ore pond left over from the Scotia iron ore mining days.

Despite its unnatural, man-made origines, the ore pond is a fairly photogenic spot and worth a quick look while visiting the ruins of Scotia.

An ore pond near the ghost town of Scotia in Centre County Pennsylvania.
An ore pond near the ghost town of Scotia in Centre County.

10 Acre Pond at Scotia

In the boomtown days of Scotia, 10 Acre Pond was an important source of water (along with wells dug later) for both the ore washing operation, as well as replenishing the steam engines that rolled into Scotia twice daily.

10 Acre Pond near the ghost town of Scotia in Centre County Pennsylvania.
10 Acre Pond was an important source of water for the ore washing operation at Scotia.

Now it is important to both migrating waterfowl as well as indigenous amphibians.

10 Acre Pond near the ghost town of Scotia.
10 Acre Pond is important to both migrating waterfowl as well as indigenous amphibians.

10 Acre Pond is located on land owned by Patton Township (and preserved for public use) and sits approximately 150 yards east of the Scotia ruins parking area.

10 Acre Pond near the ghost town of Scotia.
10 Acre Pond near the ghost town of Scotia.

The Black Ghost of Scotia

As with many industrial operations of the time, accidental deaths were not uncommon, and rumors of hauntings by the recently-deceased accompanied those sudden deaths.

But the most persistent ghost story related to Scotia involved no accident, but rather revolves around a murder that took place in 1910.

An artist's rendition of the Black Ghost of Scotia.
Ghostly figures are rumored to haunt the Scotia Barrens.

On a chilly October night, an African-American man named Bert Delige attacked and murdered Mrs. Hulda Burdis, the widow of Bert’s former boss John Baudis.

Bert quickly became the prime suspect, and faced with overwhelming evidence turned up during the investigation (including the bloody razor used to cut Mrs. Burdis’ throat), he confessed to the crime.

Bert Delige was publicly hanged at the Bellefonte jail courtyard on April 25, 1911, the last public hanging in Centre County.

Graffiti resembling the Black Ghost of Scotia painted on the ore washer ruins.
Graffiti tribute to the “Black Ghost of Scotia” painted on the ore washer ruins.

His body was returned to the Scotia Barrens (as the land around Scotia was and still is called) and he was buried in unconsecrated ground near his family homestead.

To this day, rumors of a large, black, human-shaped figure wandering the Scotia Barrens persist, and sightings seem to peak around the date of his execution on April 25th.

A rendering of what the Black Ghost of Scotia is rumored to look like.
A rendering of what the Black Ghost of Scotia is rumored to look like.

Nearby Attractions

The Arboretum at Penn State is a fantastic collection of botanic gardens, fountains, ponds, walking trails, and pollinator habitats all located on the north end of the Penn State main campus in State College.

Springtime blooms near the Greenhouse at the Penn State Arboretum.
Springtime blooms near the Greenhouse at the Penn State Arboretum.

The Penn State All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium honors the history, heritage, and accomplishments of Penn State athletes and Penn State Intercollegiate Athletics.

The Penn State All-SPorts Museum is located on the ground floor of Beaver Stadium.
The Penn State All-Sports Museum at Beaver Stadium.

Exploring Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County will introduce you to this popular Centre County park built, coincidentally, on top of another ghost town named Antes.

Sunset at Black Moshannon State Park as viewed from a kayak.
Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County.

The 5 Best Scenic Overlooks Near State College will show you how to find some of the best mountain vistas surrounding Penn State and State College.

Penn State campus as viewed from the MIke Lynch Overlook on Mount Nittany.
View of Penn State and State College from Mount Nittany.

Hiking the Colyer Lake Trail Near State College shows you what to expect from this beautiful 2.6 mile lakeside-loop trail just minutes from downtown State College and Penn State.

Looking out over the water from the Colyer Lake Trail near State College.
The Colyer Lake Trail near State College.

Exploring Greenwood Furnace State Park in Huntingdon County introduces you to yet another state park built on the site of a ghost town, this one the former boomtown of Greenwood.

Exploring the inside of the Greenwood Furnace.
Exploring the inside of the Greenwood Furnace.

The abandoned lime kilns at Canoe Creek State Park are remnants of a thriving limestone-processing facility that once operated around the clock in this now-tranquil corner of neighboring Blair County.

The abandoned Blair Limestone Company kilns at Canoe Creek State Park.
The abandoned Blair Limestone Company kilns at Canoe Creek State Park.

Exploring Concrete City in Luzerne County takes you inside this former coal company housing complex abandoned just a decade after it opened.

The muddy remains of Concrete City near Nanticoke.
The muddy remains of Concrete City near Nanticoke.

Exploring the Abandoned PA Turnpike takes you inside what is arguably the largest abandoned site in Pennsylvania, a 13 mile-long stretch of former superhighway-turned bike path.

Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020.
Sideling Hill Tunnel on the Abandoned PA Turnpike in September 2020.

Exploring the Abandoned Alvira Bunkers in Union County takes you inside the ruins of a former explosives depot turned State Game Lands.

Inside one of the abandoned Alvira bunkers.
One of the abandoned Alvira munitions bunkers in Union County.

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Rusty Glessner
Rusty Glessner is a professional photographer, lifelong Pennsylvanian, and a frequently-cited authority on PA's best travel destinations.